Analyzing Policy Learning in European Union Policy Formulation: The Advocacy Coalition Framework Meets New-Institutional Theory. Bruges Political Research Paper No. 5. November 2007

Engel, Filip. (2007) Analyzing Policy Learning in European Union Policy Formulation: The Advocacy Coalition Framework Meets New-Institutional Theory. Bruges Political Research Paper No. 5. November 2007. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

The paper applies a policy learning perspective on policy change in the European Union. Based on the idea that complex empirical phenomena require complex analytical tools, the paper argues that the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) is a suitable approach to the analysis of policy learning when rational choice institutionalism and sociological institutionalism are incorporated into the approach so as to address some analytical weak points of the ACF. The paper then asks if any conditions can be identified under which one of the two institutionalisms hold more explanatory power than the other institutionalism. By applying the revised ACF to the analysis of an empirical case of policy learning, consisting of the energy-companies Shell, BP and Exxon Mobile, it is shown that the incorporation of the institutionalisms in the ACF produces some valuable insights and that the time-span included in the empirical analysis constitutes an important factor as to the explanatory power of each of the institutionalisms.

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